There is so much one could say about this woman, she was a force to be reckoned with and nevertook "NO" for an answer, ever.

She wasn't the kind of grandma you wouldcuddle up with and read stories or bake cookies, but that is OK.

I learned many other things from watching her live her life.

Like follow your passions.

And NEVER, EVER let a disease define you.

My Grandma suffered from Parkinsons Disease for several years.

For as long as I have memories of her, I remember her head and hands shaking.

But despite that she made a secondcareer out of fashioning stained glassand traveled all over the United Stateswinning awards for her work.

This is my piece from Grandma...inspired by a 1920's Vogue Cover

My Grandmother created artup until the last few months of herlife. She traded in the stained glass several years ago for paper, paint and beautiful mosaics.

A few years ago, she was featured in ourhometown newspaper...to be inspired, click HERE.

She loved these elegant lady profiles and BIG HATS!

James, Sophia and I drove to Nebraska forher funeral the weekend of Oct 22nd. I was honored to read at her memorial service.

It was also the first time I had seen the stained glass windows she created and donatedto her church when they remolded several years ago.

The two windows in front here were made by my Grandma - I wish I had a better picture!!

When we got home, Sophia and I madeStained Glass Cookies for tea this week in her honor.

We talked about the beauty of colorsand light and how each person can see the world in a different way.

And that is a very good thing.

Excuse the cookie imperfections...I am a cookie newbie!!!

I used a new sugar cookie recipe that I LOVED - it held it's shape so great and hardly spread.

Now, I am sure you can tell on your own,I AM NOT A COOKIE EXPERT!

I am a CUPCAKE & TEA PARTY person.

I really would love to learn sugar cookies androyal icing better, but I will just have to leave it up to my friends like Lisa, Hani, Callye, Meaghan

However, I really like how these turned out. I used a cookie recipe I found HERE.

To make the stained glass effect, I crushedup jolly ranchers and placing the cookiesto bake on a greased foil lined baking sheetI let them bake for about 4 minutes. I then placed thecrushed candy into the cut out area and bakedfor 3-4 more minutes or until the cookies weredone and the candy was melted.